Monday, January 23, 2017

HearthMasters is opening a
masonry training school in Independence, Missouri in June in answer to requests for masonry skills
courses in the Midwest region. Gene Padgitt, an award-winning master mason,
will be heading up the workshops.

Kansas City, Missouri
January 23, 2017

The first course offering is
Introduction to Masonry. This hands—on workshop is geared towards chimney
professionals who want to learn how to do basic masonry repairs that are
commonly needed when doing chimney relining, minor masonry repair, and
repairing or rebuilding a firebox, however, anyone wanting to learn basic
masonry is welcome to attend.
Participants will attend classroom courses and get hands-on experience
learning how to grind and point brick masonry joints, how to repair a firebox,
how to build cement caps/crowns, how to cut out and replace a section of bricks
to access a smoke chamber, how to repair a smoke chamber, and rebuild several
courses of brick on an exterior chimney. We will also discuss block and stone
chimneys, stucco application, and other forms of masonry fireplace restoration
using pre-cast kits.
A certificate of completion will be issued to participants who successfully
complete the course. A maximum of 10 attendees will be accepted. The cost is
$800 per person and includes all lunches, handouts, and a film of the project
after it is completed. CEUs for CSIA, NFI, and MHA will be applied for.

Gene Padgitt has 34 years of
industry experience. He is a State Certified Private Fire Investigator, CSIA
Certified Chimney Sweep, NFI Certified Gas Specialist, Licensed Mechanical
Contractor, and holds a degree in HVACR Technology. Padgitt has been an
instructor for 20 years and he and his wife, Marge, author of The Chimney and
Hearth Pro’s Resource Book, decided to open a training center in answer to
requests from industry professionals. HearthMasters will offer more classes in
the future.

Future classes will include
Brick Oven Building, Masonry Heater Construction, business building, marketing,
and technical training.
For more information visitwww.hearthmasters.net or call
816-461-3665.

Friday, January 20, 2017

To the wood-fired connoisseur, there is nothing that can
compare to food – any food -- cooked in a wood-fired oven. This is because the
taste imparted to the food from the wood is something that can’t be obtained
from gas or electric ovens.

A team of taste testers was sent to each of these
restaurants – on multiple occasions -- over the past year in order to sample
some of their wonderful dishes. The results were unanimous: Eat wood-fired
whenever possible.

Rock & Run
Brewery and Pub, 110 E Kansas St., Liberty, Missouri offers an exotic brew
pub menu which includes appetizers such as deviled eggs, mini bruschetta, and
house-made meatballs, salads, soups, sandwiches, pastas, and of course, pizza.
Rock & Run’s specialty pizzas include a white pizza with chicken, bacon,
white garlic sauce, and mozzarella & provolone cheeses, a pulled pork
pizza, Reuben pizza, and a super-hot diablo pizza. Of course, Rock & Run offers an extensive
wine and beer list since the restaurant brews their own beer on site. A must for any visit is to top the meal off
with campfire s’mores cooked in the wood-fired oven which are to die for. www.rockandrunbrewery.com

Pizza Bella, 18th
& Baltimore, Kansas City, Missouri offers a menu which features gourmetpizza designed by the owner/chef.
Pizzas featured are Margherita, prosciutto, mushroom, leek, potato, egg, and
others that are not found in standard pizza joint. The appetizers and desserts
feature brussels sprouts, olives and olive oils, mussels, and a charcuteirie plate
with assorted cheeses, mustards, and baguette. All of the breads and doughs are
made on site. A true gourmet food experience can be found here. Ask the
bartender to suggest a wine or beer with your meal. www.pizzabellakc.com

Blue Grotto,
Brookside Plaza at 63rd & Wornall, Kansas City , Missouri serves
antipasta, soups, salads, entrees, and wood-fired pizza featuring Funghi and
Salsiccia, and a Quattro Stagnioni pizza with artichokes, criminis, olives,
peppers, and fontina cheese. The cast iron apple cobbler is a fitting finish to
a delicious meal. The Blue Grotto has more good reviews online than most
restaurants in town so it is worth the trip. www.bluegrottobrookside.com

Providence Pizza,
Hwy 71 and Main Street, Grandview, Missouri specializes in pizza but also
serves great calzones, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, and desserts. The
restaurant offers the customer a choice of thin or thick crust, and an extensive
list of toppings, cheeses, and sauces. Pizza is cooked in their large
copper-clad wood-fired oven at the front of the restaurant. www.providencepizza.com.

The following are some tips for keeping your fireplace in good order for the winter:

Have all chimneys inspected annually
by a professional chimney sweep to be sure they are in good working order. The
sweep will inspect the interior with a chimney camera and the entire exterior
wood or masonry structure visually. He
will look for cracks, gaps, or missing mortar joints in the flue, check for
proper flue size, check the smoke chamber and fireplace condition, flashing,
crown, and chimney cover.

Have the furnace or water heater flue
inspected annually by a professional to be sure it is not a Carbon Monoxide
risk. Blockages or flues in poor condition can be a CO risk. Even a CO detector does not register all levels of CO.

Have gas direct vent fireplaces or
stoves tuned up and serviced annually to assure proper performance. Dirt, dust,
and spiders clog orifices and can make the unit inoperable. Annual service is
required by the manufacturer for warranty coverage on all brands.

Have a chimney cover installed to
keep damaging rain and animals out of the flue. A cover should be installed on each
flue or a custom-cover can be made to cover all flues and the cement crown.

Masonry problems such as cracked
mortar or bricks, deteriorating mortar or spalling bricks should be repaired in
the spring and summer months to allow for proper curing so plan accordingly.

Have an elastomeric sealant applied
to the cement crown to protect it from weather damage.

Everyone needs a
wood-burning stove in their home for emergency heating and here's why:

Wood-burning stoves work
without the use of electricity or fans (unlike gas furnaces or pellet stoves).

Wood stoves and inserts produce
TWICE the amount of heat (BTU's) than gas stoves or inserts!

Fuel is readily
available either by using your own trees on site or purchasing through a
firewood dealer.

No electricity is needed for a wood stove or insert to work! In case of emergency when the power is out you'll be
able to stay in your home instead of going to stay with friends or family or going to a hotel.

With a freestanding stove you can cook on the top if needed.

Use
a wood-burning stove during fall and winter as a supplemental heating source to
save money and provide a more comfortable, even heat. Radiant heat from a wood
stove or masonry heater has more health benefits than a gas furnace or electric
baseboard heaters.

Good quality wood stoves aren't inexpensive - but they are worth the investment. A good stove will last many years. Note: beware of box store wood stoves that have no warranty and may burn out after a few seasons.

New wood-burning stoves and inserts are 75%+ efficient which means that most of the heat is staying in your house rather than going up the flue as with a standard open fireplace.

Call us to discuss upgrading your inefficient open fireplace
to a high-efficiency wood-burning insert or if no fireplace is available we can
install a freestanding wood stove for you along with a Class A chimney or chimney liner.

Note: Regency is offering a great deal on their products with $100 - $600 off wood stoves until February 20, 2017. An on-site inspection is required first so call now for an appointment.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Homeowners need to be aware of the risks of Carbon Monoxide hazards with
chimneys serving gas appliances. This can be a real issue when getting a home
ready for rent or sale. Chimneys are the LAST thing anyone investigates, and
are often overlooked when it comes to budgeting a remodel or restoration
project.

Chimneys and
their flue liners and connecting pipes are designed to get toxic heated flue
gasses out of the house. If a chimney is in poor condition or blocked it cannot
perform its intended function, putting the occupants at risk. It is interesting
to note that even with installation of CO detectors, low levels of CO (less
than 9 ppm) which do not register on a detector. can cause long term health
problems and even irreversible brain damage. Visit www.coheadquarters.com for more information on Carbon Monoxide symptoms, hazards,
and more.

When
inspecting a chimney what professional chimney sweeps look for are items that
can be risks to the occupants. Among these are:

§ Damaged or deteriorated flue liner

§Missing mortar joints between tile
flue liner sections

§No flue liner installed as required
by IRC code

§An abandoned water heater (new
furnace installed, water heater is left to vent alone)

§Cement crown deteriorated, cracked,
or missing, allowing rain water to enter the chimney

Carbon Monoxide is odorless, tasteless, and colorless.

During
winter months when houses are closed tightly, the problem with CO becomes much
worse. There is often inadequate dilution air provided so CO and other toxic
gasses from off-gassing of carpet, woodwork, furniture, etc. increase in
volume, making the indoor air quality worse than the rest of the year. As a result, the occupants can experience
unexplained headaches, nausea, dizziness, fainting, or death.

If the house is
under negative pressure this can exacerbate the problem. A whole house
ventilator may be needed in addition to chimney repair to bringing the chimney
to code and working order.

The most commont
problem with chimneys serving gas appliances is rain. Rain water entering a
chimney from the top through the flue or gaps in the cement crown cause mortar
joints to wash out of the flue liner. Typical clay tile flue liners have mortar
joints between each two-foot tile section.
Excessive condensation of flue gasses is also a major cause of missing
mortar joints. This occurs when the flue liner is sized too large for the
appliances and this is extremely common.

Methods of repair: There are different methods for
relining, lining, or repair available. Your chimney professional is the best
qualified person to address these issues and offer recommendations.

Licensing: Note that a Master Mechanical
Contractor License is required to do chimney flue relining or repair in the
greater Kansas City area. Check with the Johnson County Contractor Licensing
website at www.jocogov.org /dept/planning-and-codes/cls/home to find a licensed
contractor.

Finding a Professional: The Chimney Safety Institute of
America offers training for professional chimney technicians. The CSIA
Certified Chimney Sweep designation is a minimum requirement to look for when
hiring a chimney pro. Certified Chimney Sweeps know the Codes and Standards and
correct methods for repair. Visit www.csia.org for more information. Additionally,
request proof of liability and workers comp insurance and contractor licensing.
Make sure the contractor pulls a permit for the work and it is inspected by the
building inspector. Also check Angie's List for reviews. Unfortunately, there
are a lot of untrained and unqualified chimney companies in existence so due
diligence will pay off in the end. A mistake in this area can be deadly for
occupants so it isn’t worth going the cheap or DIY route.

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The Chimney Lady

About Me

Writer, film producer, talk radio show host, lecturer specializing in wood-burning fireplaces, masonry heaters, bake ovens, wood stoves, and chimneys. Training for professional chimney sweeps, hearth dealers, home inspectors, insurance adjusters, and the public. See www.chimkc.com for more information.

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The Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book

HearthMasters Masonry School

June, 2017

About HearthMasters, Inc.

We are a specialty chimney contractor and masonry school located in Independence, Missouri. Marge and Gene Padgitt are the owners and are available to speak at conferences and meetings. See more info on our websites.